P–12 District Equity “Shutdown”: Equity Directors’ Experiences Amid Anti-Equity Organizing, 2020–2022

This article examines local experiences of the national attack on district equity work intended to better support Students of Color and LGBTQ+ students over the 2020–2022 school years. Drawing on theory on zones of mediation and interviews with over 70 district “equity directors” (EDs) nationally, I analyze how together national, state, and local pressure led to district equity “shutdown.” Forms of district equity shutdown included censoring equity-focused communication and language, eliminating district equity-focused programming or personnel, and restricting books and learning resources, with 40% of EDs reporting at least one form of district equity shutdown.